Trip to Gainesville in the Future?

Jason Higdon

08/12/2007

Cyrus Gray is one of the top tailbacks in the country. He is 6-0, 192-pounds and runs in the 4.35 range. Gray, from De Soto (Texas) De Soto High School gave us the inside story on his interest in the Florida Gators.

"Over the summer I have been working and going to summer school but I did get a chance to go to Texas A&M and Oklahoma State. I have been to Texas A&M ten times. It was my first trip to Oklahoma State and actually, I have been to SMU about four or five times. Texas A&M and SMU are close to me that's why I have gone to see them a few times."

How did you get interested in Florida?

"I have liked Florida for a long time. They are a speed team and I have great speed. Orange is my favorite color and they have a lot of orange. They do big things like win the national title and that's what has me looking at them."

What do you know about the Gators running back situation?

"I had a chance to talk to Coach Stan Drayton, Coach Urban Meyer and Coach Gregg Mattison when they came to watch me practice. They all talked to me about needing a big time back. It is somewhat crazy that they won the national title and did it without a true number one running back. The coaches told me that the running game is not where they need it to be. Coach Drayton contacts me about two or three times a week but since the new rules the NCAA has things have slowed down a bit. The only thing coaches can do now is send emails. I have not been to Florid,a but I know that I will take a trip to Gainesville before I make my decision. I don't have a time table on when I will make my decision but when I go on a visit and it feels right I will put this thing to rest."

What are some factors you will use to make your decision?

"The things that are important to me are the academic environment and the graduation rate. I want to be a dentist so that is important to me and I want to see how teams use their running back. I like when teams try to do find different ways to get the ball to the running back. I love how they use Percy Harvin and that is how the staff has told me that they will use me and that is exciting. Last year I played running back, quarterback, wide receiver, free safety and was returning kicks so I stayed on the field for most of the game. This year I will be playing quarterback a lot but I love playing different position. With the Gators running the spread option attack and getting the ball in the hands of the playmakers and with my speed the opportunity is very exciting. I want to come down to the swamp and watch them get after it."

What are your strengths as a player?

"My ability to lead by example is what separates me from other players around the country. I am not the kind of player that likes to talk that much on the field. I like to go out and let my play do all the talking for me. My speed and ability to make people miss is what makes me dangerous once I get in space. I have the ability to make people look silly at times by not laying a finger on me as I put a move on them. I am the kind of guy that will cut and go and leave people behind."

Cyrus Gray finished his junior season with 222 carries for 1,510 yards and 31 touchdowns. He also had 38 receptions for 438 yards and two touchdowns and returned a whopping four punts for scores. Gray benches 305 pounds, squats 585 pounds and has a 34-inch vertical jump. He also claims to run a 10.43 100-meter.